Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** ICANN ponders ways to stop scammy Web sites [IDG] http://www.pcworld.com/article/158378/.html Public Comment: Initial Report on Fast Flux Hosting http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-26jan09-en.htm ICANN Calls for Expressions of Interest to Host 2010 Meeting in Europe http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-26jan09-en.htm Application Round Opens for Sydney Meeting Fellowships http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-27jan09-en.htm us: Defense cybersecurity budget request likely a third more than reported http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090126_2865.php Russian 'cybermilitia' knocks Kyrgyzstan offline http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126947 nz: Opinion: Domain name court sequel http://reseller.co.nz/reseller.nsf/opin/9C847E13F25D0E1DCC257543007DE998 ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN ponders ways to stop scammy Web sites [IDG] The overseer of the Internet's addressing system is soliciting ideas for how to fix a problem that is enabling spammers and fraudulent Web sites to flourish. ICANN has issued an initial report on fast flux, a technique that allows a Web site's domain name to resolve to multiple IP (Internet protocol) addresses. http://www.pcworld.com/article/158378/.html http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/274461/ http://www.techworld.com/news/index.cfm?NewsID=110085 http://www.itworld.com/internet/61451/icann-ponders-ways-stop-scammy-web-sites ICANN freezes over fast flux fury The non-profit group that oversees the internet's address system is seeking the public's help in deciding what to do about the growing use of a technology known as fast flux, which is used by cybercriminals to thwart take-down efforts, but which can also be used for legitimate purposes as well. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/28/icann_fast_flux_report/ ICANN group ponders fixes to fast-flux abuse "Fast flux" is a technique used by highly respectable service providers and content networks to handle serious traffic loads. It has also become a favored tool of scammers and spammers. http://www.betanews.com/article/ICANN_group_ponders_fixes_to_fastflux_abuse/1233131873 A Noteworthy Report on Fast Flux Hosting This very interesting document was released by ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) for public comment yesterday. And it asks some fundamental questions while at the same time pointing to sources such as the Honeynet Alliance's reports on fast flux. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090126_report_fast_flux_hosting/ ICANN Looking for Ideas on How to Stop Scammy Web Sites ICANN is looking for ideas on how to fix the misuse of fast flux, a technique that allows administrators to quickly point a Web site's domain name to a new IP address. http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/community/news/sec/blog/icann-looking-for-ideas-on-how-to-stop-scammy-web-sites/?cs=30052 Public Comment: Initial Report on Fast Flux Hosting A public comment period opens today for 20 days on an Initial Report on Fast Flux Hosting. In May 2008, the GNSO Council initiated a Policy Development Process (PDP) and called for the creation of a working group on fast flux. The working group was asked to consider the following questions: http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-26jan09-en.htm ICANN Calls for Expressions of Interest to Host 2010 Meeting in Europe In accordance with ICANN's commitment to continuous improvement in the management of meetings, and in response to requests for advanced planning, ICANN today posts a call for Expressions of Interest to host the meeting to be held in Europe on 17-23 October 2010. The objective is to routinely provide advice on locations for meetings 12 months ahead of schedule. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-26jan09-en.htm Application Round Opens for Sydney Meeting Fellowships ICANN has launched the seventh round of fellowship program applications for its 35th International Public Meeting to be held in Sydney, Australia from 21-26 June 2009. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-27jan09-en.htm A Noteworthy Report on Fast Flux Hosting by Suresh Ramasubramanian This very interesting document was released by ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) for public comment yesterday. And it asks some fundamental questions while at the same time pointing to sources such as the Honeynet Alliance's reports on fast flux. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090126_report_fast_flux_hosting/ Why .eBay and .IBM Make No Sense I?ve had a question about the proposed new top level domains for a long time. And no one has provided me with a good answer. Hopefully someone reading this can provide one. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/26/why-ebay-and-ibm-make-no-sense/ More dotty domains If anyone from Icann is reading (they're big fans of Backbytes. It's the first place they look for satnav news), we have lots of suggestions for new top-level domains. http://backbytes.computing.co.uk/2009/01/more-dotty-doma.html ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Indian domain, global appeal If the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu could make money from its cctld .tv and Montenegro from .me, can India be far behind? Administrative arm for .in domain names, National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is working hard on catching the world?s attention and turning .in domain extension into a hot property. It seems to be gaining traction this year. The World?s largest domain name registrar, GoDaddy has jumped on board this month and is now flogging off .in domain name, billing it a ?catchy domain extension." http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Indian-domain-global-appeal/416237/ .Pro Registrations Grow Five-Fold in Five Months [news release] RegistryPro has seen registrations of .Pro soar since the company relaunched the top-level domain name (TLD) under expanded registration guidelines from ICANN. http://registrypro.pro/pressreleasses/2009/0127.html .Pro Registrations Grow Five-Fold in Five Months Following the relaunch of the .pro TLD with expanded registration guidelines approved by ICANN, Registry.pro has announced a five-fold increase in registrations since September 2008. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/01/28/pro-registrations-grow-five-fold-in-five-months/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/.pro-registrations-grow-five-fold-in-five-months.html Pro TLD Grows Five-Fold in Five Months At least partly due to a recent relaxation of eligibility restrictions, the exclusive operator of the .Pro top level domain, RegistryPro, has reported explosive growth in the total number of registrations of .Pro domain names, the first and only domain name extension designated for professionals and professional entities worldwide. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/012809_Pro_TLD_Grows_Five-Fold_in_Five_Months Davos to connect with the world through DAVOS.tel [news release] As the World Economic Forum (WEF) kicks off in Switzerland talking about economic regeneration and the further bridging of the digital divide, Telnic Limited (www.telnic.org), the registry operator for the new .tel top level domain (TLD), announced that the host town for the WEF is amongst many municipalities, towns and cities that are securing their .tel domain names. http://telnic.com/downloads/Davos_tel.pdf ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** us: Defense cybersecurity budget request likely a third more than reported A government research company estimates that about a third of the Defense Department's $4 billion request for spending on IT security is included in general spending on various departmental programs and not coded specifically as spent on information systems security, making it difficult to track the Pentagon's total cybersecurity spending, according to a report released on Monday. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090126_2865.php Russian 'cybermilitia' knocks Kyrgyzstan offline A Russian "cybermilitia" has knocked the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan off the Internet, a security researcher said today, demonstrating that the hackers are able to respond even faster than last year, when they waged a digital war against another former Soviet republic, Georgia. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126947 http://computerworld.com.au/article/274694/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/158517/.html http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/274694/ DDoS attack boots Kyrgyzstan from net The central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan was effectively knocked offline for more than a week by a Russian cybermilitia that continues to flood the country's internet providers with crippling data attacks, a security expert said. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/28/kyrgyzstan_knocked_offline/ McAfee, Inc. Predicts Slumping Economy Driving Malware Threats [news release] McAfee Looks Ahead at 2009, Cyberthreats Ranging from Corporate Brand Hijacking to Mule Recruitment Sites http://mcafee.com/us/about/press/corporate/2009/20090120_050000_o.html co: Offenses related to Computer Crimes and the Protection of Information and Data On January 5, 2009, Colombia's Congress enacted Act 1273 that amends the Criminal Code and creates a new legally protected interest called information and data protection. The Act 1273 also extended protection to systems that use information technologies and communications. Act 1273 of 2009 concretely created new criminal offenses related to computer crimes and the protection of information and data, with imprisonment penalties up to 120 months and fines up to $1,500 minimum statutory monthly wages. ... The same penalty shall apply to anyone who modifies the domain names resolving system, so that makes the user enter a different Internet Protocol (IP) address in the belief that it is accessing its bank or another personal or trusted site, if the conduct does not constitutes an offense punishable by a higher penalty. http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=latestnews&id=2199 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** nz: Opinion: Domain name court sequel The Auckland phonebook lists 72 businesses names starting with A1. They all want the same thing: prominence at the front of phone book listings. The quest for A1 marketing exposure has reached cyberspace. A recent tussle over the domain name ?a1radiators.co.nz? was recently resolved by the NZ Dispute Resolution Service (?DRS?). This is a service set up in 2006 and administered by the Domain Name Commission Ltd. http://reseller.co.nz/reseller.nsf/opin/9C847E13F25D0E1DCC257543007DE998 ie: Dunne in court over domain name ownership A legal battle between developer Sean Dunne and a prominent hotelier over the ownership of an internet domain name has begun at the Commercial Court. http://www.rte.ie/business/2009/0127/d4hotels.html us: N.H. retailer vows to fight Internet ruling Dan Philbrick may have lost the first round in his legal battle against Internet giant eNom over using a domain name similar to that of his Dover, N.H., store. But he said he?s ready to come out swinging in round two. http://nhbr.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/NEWS06/901279958 ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** German IPv6 Contest: Looking for fresh Ideas for the new Internet Generation The German IPv6 Council initiated a contest for ideas pertaining to the next generation of the internet. The council invites submissions of applications which are based on the new internet standard of IPv6. This way the transition to the new rules of data traffic on the internet should take place in an efficient manner and on a large scale. http://ipv6council.de/contest/ IPv6 move could cause network problems, threaten cybersecurity The move to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) could have a profound affect on the Internet, breaking it up into islands of connectivity and threatening cybersecurity in the process, according to Jeff Young, a senior analyst at the Burton Group. http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid14_gci1345913,00.html ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** California's Legislation Outlawing Political Cyberfraud and Cybersquatting The California Political Cyberfraud Abatement Act, enacted in 2001, that seeks to protect politicians and their political campaigns from being sabotaged by cybersquatters, remains a one-of-a-kind legislation in the United States (U.S.). Some commentators contend that this legislation might violate constitutional free speech rights, but the issue has not been judicially considered yet. http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=26E766C8-B906-4C7B-8E2C-B667F1442F70 German courts add to questions awaiting answers from the ECJ [reg req'd] Following the Dutch Supreme Court?s questions about search engine keywords and trade mark infringement to the European Court of Justice (?ECJ?) in December and the French court?s questions in May 2008, the German courts have added a further question to those already awaiting a response. http://www.law-now.com/law-now/2009/keygermanjan09.htm German court seeks guidance over adwords A German court has asked the European Court of Justice to clarify whether using a trade mark as a keyword for internet advertising amounts to trade mark infringement http://managingip.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2088901 Network Solutions Resolves DDoS Attack A number of sites that flickered off-and-on late last week due to a Distributed Denial of Service attack came back online at 5pm Friday according to affected domain registrar and hosting provider Network Solutions http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/012609_Network_Solutions_Resolves_DDoS_Attack ICA Still Strong, But Challenges Remain When Michael Collins resigned as Executive Director of Internet Commerce Association last week, I re-read his resignation letter a few times. What did it say about ICA? What is the future of the organization? http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/27/ica-still-strong-but-challenges-remain/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Domainer Tips for 2009: A Guide to Your Domain Resolution We have all entered a New Year, through the midst of difficult economic times. A lot of changes are expected to take place this year, and we all hope that any hardships we faced in the past year will be left behind in 2008. As the domain industry continues to steadily grow, there are still many new tough choices to make in the year ahead. What will your domain resolution be for this New Year? http://www.sedo.com/links/showhtml.php3?Id=2288 Steve Wozniak Discusses Domain Names and Woz.com Steve Wozniak delighted a crowd of 500 domain industry professionals this afternoon at DOMAINfest in Los Angeles. Wozniak dished out stories of the early days at Apple and his philosophy on business. But the crowd was most engaged when he talked about domain names. ... Wozniak also joked about being asked to join ICANN. He joked that he looked at it as just a chance to take four great vacations a year in exotic locations. (He didn?t accept.) http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/28/steve-wozniak-discusses-domain-names-and-wozcom/ Kupietzky Calls for Domain Industry Transparency Oversee.net president Jeff Kupietzky kicked off the first full day of DOMAINfest Global this morning with a parody of a Barack Obama speech (see video below). It was a light-hearted way to discuss the difficulties and opportunities the domain name industry faces. His underlying message was that we?re in tough times, but these tough times will breed opportunity. In order for the industry to succeed, domain companies must look outward and exhibit transparency. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/01/28/kupietzky-calls-for-domain-industry-transparency/ ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** Generations Online in 2009 - Americans Use of the Internet Over half of the adult internet population is between 18 and 44 years old. But larger percentages of older generations are online now than in the past, and they are doing more activities online, according to surveys taken from 2006-2008. http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/275/report_display.asp ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Inauguration buckles, but doesn't break, the Internet President Barack Obama's inauguration generated massive Web traffic last Tuesday, fueled by unprecedented amounts of live video streaming and a flood of postings on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=332829 http://computerworld.com.au/article/273952/ Cerf: says 2009 will be a turning point for the Internet Historians will view 2009 as a turning point in Internet history, according to Google internet evangelist Vint Cerf. Speaking to PTC?09 attendees, the legendary figure warned the industry to brace for ?significant change? and said Asia was poised to forever change the look and experience of the online landscape. http://www.commsday.com/node/309 Google Aims To Expose Network Meddling Vint Cerf puts the word out that Google's Measurement Lab will make it more difficult for telecoms to degrade or block apps, such as BitTorrent or Skype. http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/google/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212903340 Google and universities offer tool to detect Net filtering, blocking Is your Internet provider unreasonably interfering with your network traffic, and perhaps even running afoul of Net neutrality principles? Google and some like-minded folks believe they've come up with what amounts to an early warning system. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10152117-38.html Google, partners release net neutrality tools [IDG] Google and a group of partners have released a set of tools designed to help broadband customers and researchers measure performance of Internet connections. http://computerworld.com.au/article/274715/ Google begins effort to find Internet blockers Google Inc on Wednesday unveiled a plan aimed at eventually letting computer users determine whether providers like Comcast Corp are inappropriately blocking or slowing their work online. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-37712120090128 http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKTRE50R6W020090128 Google looks for internet blockers Google has unveiled a plan aimed at eventually letting computer users determine whether providers are inappropriately blocking or slowing their work online. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24978638-15306,00.html Youths rule Internet, but elderly making gains: study [AFP] Growing numbers of American seniors are going online, chipping away at the dominance of 18- to 44-year-olds who comprise half the Web population, according to a study released Wednesday. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/youths-rule-internet-but-elderly-making-gains-study-20090129-7seq.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/youths-rule-internet-but-elderly-making-gains-study-20090129-7seq.html Wikipedia May Restrict Public?s Ability to Change Entries Stung by criticism after vandals changed Wikipedia entries to erroneously report that Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd had died, Wikipedia appears ready to introduce a system that prevents new and anonymous users from instantly publishing changes to the online encyclopedia. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/wikipedia-may-restrict-publics-ability-to-change-entries/ Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales calls for pre-approval of changes The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia is considering a radical revision to the way it can be edited by anyone after two US senators were "killed off" in its pages. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article5593986.ece Wikipedia editors may approve all changes Wikipedia faces a revolt among thousands of its contributors over proposals to change the way the online encyclopedia is run. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/27/wikipedia-may-approve-all-changes Editorial row engulfs Wikipedia The online user-generated encyclopaedia Wikipedia is considering a radical change to how it is run. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7851400.stm Internet Population Hits 1 Billion ... The total global Internet audience surpassed 1 billion visitors in December 2008, based on data from the comScore World Metrix audience measurement service. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=110038& http://www.pcworld.com/article/158323/.html Internet hits major milestone, surpassing 1 billion monthly users The Internet last month passed a major milestone.http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126796 http://computerworld.com.au/article/274353/ http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126796 http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/78A9F72E2E6FDAFACC25754A0075AB40 Polish hanging broadcast on web A young Polish man is dead after streaming his suicide on an internet chat site, prosecutors said. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4831714a28.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook privacy warning issued by EU Young Europeans using Facebook and other social networking sites may be unwittingly risking their privacy, according to a warning from Jacques Barrot, a vice president of the European Commission. http://iht.com/articles/2009/01/27/technology/facebook.4-417144.php Australian drug takers use web to find best deals for cocaine, ice, heroin, ecstasy Australian drug takers are using online social networks to compare prices for heroin, ice, cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana, letting them ?shop around? as if they were buying legal consumer goods. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24971204-421,00.html Why employers should control how staff use Facebook OPINION: President Barack Obama had a shock on his first day at work. The man who had run a pioneering campaign using social media to galvanise support couldn't access Facebook ? or webmail, or any number of web tools that were central to his campaign. http://out-law.com/page-9738 ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** United States, Nordics top tech usage ranking The United States and Scandinavian countries top the annual rankings on the usage of telecommunications technologies such as networks, cellphones and computers, a report released on Wednesday shows. http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKTRE50R10320090128 ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ MySpace faces fresh controversy over sex offender issue Just two weeks after a task force whose formation was spearheaded by MySpace Inc. delivered a report saying that social networking sites were safer from sexual predators than many people had assumed, MySpace finds itself dealing with a new inquiry related to registered sex offenders by Connecticut's attorney general. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126898 http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/274652/ uk: New pornography laws 'could make comic books illegal', say campaigners New laws designed to tackle extreme and child pornography could make owning mainstream comics like Batman or Judge Dredd illegal, campaigners claim. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/4370072/New-pornography-laws-could-make-comic-books-illegal-claim-campaigners.html Online Privacy Advice for Kids As anyone with a Social Security number knows, tomorrow is Data Privacy Day 2009, the second annual international celebration of personal-information protection. (Don't forget to send your CSO flowers.) In honor of this pseudo-occasion, Intel has collected all manner of relevant resources and event listings, including its "Top Five Teen Privacy Tips." http://www.pcworld.com/article/158438/.html Teaching Teenagers About Harassment This month, three teenage girls, students at Greensburg Salem High School in Greensburg, Pa., were charged with disseminating child pornography. They had sent nude pictures of themselves by cellphone to their teenage boyfriends, who were charged with possessing child pornography. http://nytimes.com/2009/01/27/business/media/27adco.html Greatest Internet threat to teens may be teens themselves Since emerging from the primordial ooze, parents have wrung their evolving appendages over ways to shield their offspring from hungry predators, lurking maniacs and strangers from without. http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-he-kidsonline26-2009jan26,0,830212.story Tightening Internet security for kids Shoring up kids' safety on the Internet -- and on social networking sites in particular -- has become a hot subject for state and federal legislators. No wonder, then, that sites such as MySpace and Facebook have been at pains to head off regulatory and legislative action with some strong safety measures of their own. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-hew-kidsregulations26-2009jan26,0,509516.story Online Privacy Advice for Kids [Network World] As anyone with a Social Security number knows, tomorrow is Data Privacy Day 2009, the second annual international celebration of personal-information protection. http://www.pcworld.com/article/158438/.html Protect kids online with these tips Last week, the Supreme Court quietly let die a federal law dubbed the Child Online Protection Act, which made it a crime in the United States to post sexually explicit material on the Web for commercial gain without making provisions to block kids from gaining access. http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-he-kidsprotect26-2009jan26,0,4770463.story au: ISPs clustered for filtering trials Participants in the federal Government's controversial mandatory internet filtering scheme will start live trials in batches, instead of en masse. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24975071-15306,00.html au: Internet filtering trial date is close A decision on the starting date for the federal Government's live internet service provider filtering trials is imminent, as 16 applicants are in the final round of the selection process. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24967191-15306,00.html Who supports compulsory Internet filtering, exactly? The field trials of the Rudd government's compulsory Internet filters, which were completed just before Christmas... no, they started before Christmas... no, that's not right either... when do they start? Senator Conroy? Anyone? Can't say? Fat kid on the far right? Okay, The Australian says they're "imminent". So another Christmas then. http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20090128-Who-supports-compulsory-Internet-filtering-exactly.html au: Rudd Government dodges questions on NetAlert web filter THE Rudd Government has dumped a $125m program to give families web filtering software as it prepares to test a web censorship scheme. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24963394-2,00.html Aussie Opposition Party: 'Mandatory Net Filtering Offensive to Parents' Liberal Party says the underlying message is "that parents cannot be trusted to mind their children online," and furthers by saying that "there is no technological substitute for adult supervision and it's irresponsible and misleading to infer otherwise." http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9979/ ACMA rolls out cybersafety professional development program for educators [news release] The Australian Communications and Media Authority has started the national roll-out of Cybersafety Outreach ? Professional Development for Educators?its national cybersafety program designed for primary and secondary level educators. http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311602 Safety device or just a must-have gizmo? The parent?s dilemma over pre-teen mobile It is the modern parental dilemma: at what age should you let your child have his or her first mobile phone? The answer could soon be in single figures with the introduction of a device aimed at ?pre-teens?. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5607812.ece ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** uk: ?20 broadband charge to fight online music and film piracy An additional charge for broadband use will be proposed by ministers today as part of a plan to stamp out music and film piracy. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5607744.ece UK will not legislate on piracy The UK's Intellectual Property minister David Lammy has said the government will not force internet service providers to pursue file sharers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7854494.stm UK hopes to cut piracy by making it easier to find movies [IDG] The UK Film Council has launched a search engine FindAnyFilm.com so that film buffs will be able to find when, where and how more than 30,000 movies are available, including on the Internet. http://computerworld.com.au/article/274643/ Aust Govt urges caution on net videos for govt agencies YouTube is becoming an increasingly common feature of Australian public life but the federal Government's lead information technology administrator has warned Commonwealth agencies to be cautious about using it. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24966838-5013040,00.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Alarm sounded over wi-fi networks Wireless access points could be used by hi-tech criminals to spread viruses and worms, warn US researchers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7853114.stm 3G networks don't deliver speeds users expect, Gartner says The 3G networks of all four major U.S. wireless carriers deliver slower speeds than customers expect, according to Gartner Inc., which said it has received the most complaints about AT&T's network. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126865 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/012709-3g-networks-dont-deliver-speeds.html ********************** SPAM ********************** After McColo takedown, spam surges again Spammers have regrouped and are finding ways to send more junk mail despite recent efforts by security experts. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/158326/.html http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/274324/ http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126793 Spam rises 150 per cent in two months The number of junk e-mails being sent to computer users around the world has risen more than 150 per cent in two months, as spammers fight back against efforts to shut them down. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5598661.ece Google Finds Spam Volume Bouncing Back Spam volume rose 25% in 2008 compared with the amount recorded in 2007, Google said Monday. http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/google/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212902597 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** NY Times, local publisher reach settlement in copyright case [AFP] The New York Times Co. and GateHouse Media, a local newspaper and website publisher, announced a settlement Monday in their closely watched online copyright infringement case. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/ny-times-local-publisher-reach-settlement-in-copyright-case-20090127-7qcd.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/ny-times-local-publisher-reach-settlement-in-copyright-case-20090127-7qcd.html Lawsuit over website links in spotlight-Copyright violation or fair use to be decided A copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit filed last month against The New York Times Co., owner of The Boston Globe and its Boston.com website, is being watched closely by news organizations, Internet researchers, independent bloggers, and companies that aggregate news online by linking to a variety of news sites. http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/01/23/lawsuit_over_website_links_in_spotlight/ California's Legislation Outlawing Political Cyberfraud and Cybersquatting The California Political Cyberfraud Abatement Act, enacted in 2001, that seeks to protect politicians and their political campaigns from being sabotaged by cybersquatters, remains a one-of-a-kind legislation in the United States (U.S.). Some commentators contend that this legislation might violate constitutional free speech rights, but the issue has not been judicially considered yet. http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=26E766C8-B906-4C7B-8E2C-B667F1442F70 German courts add to questions awaiting answers from the ECJ [reg req'd] Following the Dutch Supreme Court?s questions about search engine keywords and trade mark infringement to the European Court of Justice (?ECJ?) in December and the French court?s questions in May 2008, the German courts have added a further question to those already awaiting a response. http://www.law-now.com/law-now/2009/keygermanjan09.htm German court seeks guidance over adwords A German court has asked the European Court of Justice to clarify whether using a trade mark as a keyword for internet advertising amounts to trade mark infringement http://managingip.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2088901 Study: Click fraud closed 2008 at all-time high Thanks in part to armies of compromised computers, click fraud reached an all-time high in the fourth quarter. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10151618-93.html Click fraud shoots up in Q4, driven by botnets [IDG] Click fraud, a big threat to the highly profitable pay-per-click search advertising business, increased significantly in the fourth quarter, thanks to scammers' rising and sophisticated use of botnets. http://computerworld.com.au/article/274668/ Industry Click Fraud Rate Higher Than Ever Reaching 17.1% in Q4 2008 [news release] Click Forensics, Inc. today released industry pay-per-click (PPC) fraud figures for the fourth quarter 2008 from the search advertising industry?s leading independent click fraud reporting service ? the Click Fraud Index?. http://clickforensics.com/newsroom/press-releases/120-click-fraud-index.html Russian 'cybermilitia' knocks Kyrgyzstan offline A Russian "cybermilitia" has knocked the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan off the Internet, a security researcher said today, demonstrating that the hackers are able to respond even faster than last year, when they waged a digital war against another former Soviet republic, Georgia. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9126947 http://computerworld.com.au/article/274694/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/158517/.html http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/274694/ McAfee, Inc. Predicts Slumping Economy Driving Malware Threats [news release] McAfee, Inc. announced its 2009 threat predictions. The top trend to emerge for 2009 is the continued exploitation of the financial crisis to scam users with fake financial transactions services, fake investment firms, and fake legal services. The report examines the accuracy of last year's predictions and provides new insight as to where computer security threats are headed this year. http://mcafee.com/us/about/press/corporate/2009/20090120_050000_o.html The 21st-century bank robber comes armed with a keyboard Gone are the days when hacking was the preserve of mischievous teenagers with nothing better to do. These days ?cybercrime? is big business and the internet black market is booming. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5594673.ece Hackers steal details of 4.5 million in attack on Monster jobs site The personal details of millions of job seekers have been stolen in the largest data theft in Britain, The Times has learnt. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article5594222.ece ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Microsoft Study: Users Worry About Privacy But Know Little About Threats Microsoft today released its findings from user focus groups on privacy that raise questions about whether consumers are saddled with too much responsibility in protecting their information online. http://www.darkreading.com/security/privacy/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212903196 Data Privacy Day's messages for Obama, consumers We have Valentines Day and Mothers Day and even Inauguration Day. And now that cyber crooks have turned the Internet into their playground, we've got Data Privacy Day. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10151451-83.html Privacy-protecting search engine ignores IP addresses A Dutch search engine has become the first to operate without recording the address of the computer used to make the search. Ixquick said it had taken the move to protect users' privacy. http://out-law.com/page-9746 ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Editorial: A Win for Free Speech Online A 10-year campaign to censor the Internet ended last week when the Supreme Court refused to step in and save the Child Online Protection Act. Everyone can agree on the need to protect children from sexually explicit online material, but this misguided law tried to do it in ways that infringed on too much constitutionally protected free speech. http://nytimes.com/2009/01/27/opinion/27tue2.html A blogging mystery: Coarse language, sarcasm, and an internet fall from grace in South Korea A blogger who rose to fame on the basis of his economic predictions was indicted Jan. 22 with spreading false information. The charges came 11 days after the blogger's arrest. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south-korea/090119/blogging-mystery ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** NZ Govt rejects calls to alter internet law Calls to repeal a law that could mean Kiwi internet users have their connections cut if they are accused of breaching copyright have been knocked back by the Government. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4831041a23917.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/4831125a11.html http://www.businessday.co.nz/industries/4831708 Row over New Zealand?s ISP laws A war of words has broken out between different interest groups in New Zealand over controversial plans to make ISPs terminate the connections of repeat copyright infringers http://managingip.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2088075 Ofcom lauded as best telecoms regulator in Europe Ofcom has been lauded as the best telecoms regulator in Europe. The UK's national regulatory authority (NRA) has topped the latest Regulatory Scorecard published by the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA). http://www.vnunet.com/computing/news/2235239/ofcom-top-nras http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/computing/news/2235239/ofcom-top-nras http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2235239/ofcom-top-nras Digital Britain report set to push broadband for all by 2012 Getting broadband to everyone in the UK by 2012 is expected to be one of the central ambitions of Lord Stephen Carter when the communications minister unveils his initial thoughts about creating a Digital Britain tomorrow. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/28/digital-britain-broadband Government delays UK net report Communications Minister Lord Carter was expected to publish interim findings on the UK's digital economy on 24 January. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7848028.stm Government delays Digital Britain report The findings of an interim report on Britain's digital economy, due out on 24 January, will now be pushed back to "the end of the month", the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed. http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2235063/government-delays-net-report http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2235063/government-delays-net-report http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2235239/ofcom-top-nras uk: Mother's violent porn ban now law A law banning violent online porn has come into force following a campaign by a mother whose daughter was murdered. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/7851346.stm Europe Ponders Its Next Step in Intel Inquiry A decision by Intel, the chip maker, to defy European antitrust investigators raised questions Wednesday about how the European Commission should handle the remainder of the investigation and discourage similar behavior. http://nytimes.com/2009/01/29/technology/companies/29chip.html http://iht.com/articles/2009/01/28/technology/chip.4-409574.php European Court Refuses to Delay Intel Inquiry A top European Union court rejected on Tuesday a request by Intel, the chip maker, to delay an investigation into whether the company broke antitrust laws. http://nytimes.com/2009/01/28/business/worldbusiness/28eurochip.html ********************************* COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS ********************************* Bill Gates's Next Big Thing by Nicholas D Kristof Here?s a paradox: In these brutal economic times, one of the leading advocates for the world?s poorest people is one of the richest. http://nytimes.com/2009/01/25/opinion/25kristof.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein address: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA email: Goldstein_David §yahoo.com.au phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (home) "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look http://au.docs.yahoo.com/mail/smarterinboxReceived on Wed Jan 28 2009 - 20:45:06 UTC
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